Hear how the City of Tacoma has created sustainable landscaping displays for the public to experience. Learn ideas you can add to your own yard or garden in this interview.
Converting your existing yard into a more water-wise landscape is easier than you think. Listen to Janda’s ideas about sustainable landscaping including tips for creating a low-water, drought-resistant landscape in your own yard.
In this podcast (and on the page below), you’ll learn about several ideas for sustainable landscaping, different plants you could add to your own yard, and important drought-tolerant landscape supplies you should add to your wishlist.
This episode is meant for any gardener wanting to create or learn more about sustainable gardening.
Sustainable Landscaping
As our climate continues to change and get warmer, it’ll be more important than ever to maintain a garden with plants that are designed to use fewer resources overall. Of course, all perennials need to be well-established for a year or two before they can be considered drought-tolerant. Luckily, there are so many ways to alter your landscape in order to use less water as well as less of other resources.
There are several beautiful drought-tolerant perennials, shrubs, grasses, groundcovers, and trees that can sustain low levels of water for many weeks at a time.
Examples of drought-tolerant plants:
- Lavender
- Purple Coneflower
- ‘Autumn Joy’ Sedum
Check out our more extensive list of drought-tolerant perennials and drought-tolerant supplies below to help you along your journey to create a low-water landscape.
Important Links Related to This Podcast
City of Tacoma- Tree Coupon Program
Washington Native Plant Society
Janda’s Drought-Tolerant Plant List
Drought-tolerant plants are not unattractive or colorless. There are so many sizes, shapes, and colors available it really is just a matter of your preference.
Adding any one of these plants below to your landscape could beautify your yard while helping save precious water.
Here are a few of our favorites with links:
- English Lavender – Purple herb/flower seeds
- Common Yarrow– Red flower seeds
- Rosemary – Herbal shrub seeds
- Russian Sage – Blue shrub seeds
- Purpletop Vervain – Purple seeds
- Coreopsis – Yellow flower seeds
- Yew Tree – Live plant
- Mint – Pinkish-purple herb seeds
- English Laurel
- Juniper shrubs
- Salal
- Vinca – Purple groundcover
- Rhododendron – Purple live plant
- Various ornamental grasses – Live pink Muhly grass
- Fir, Pine, Spruce, and Arborvitae trees
Drought-Tolerant Landscape Supplies
Now that you have heard Janda talk about how Envirohouse uses drought-tolerant plants to design their landscape, below are a few tools that could help you on your journey.
Below are some recommendations to specific tools we use that will support your new sustainable landscape.
First of all, our most recommended tool is this water timer for so many reasons. It is a great tool for your drought-tolerant landscape because you can set the timer to the length or frequency you want saving you time and money. We love our Orbit water timer and we feel good knowing that we only use water as needed.
Other Recommended Supplies:
Sustainable Landscape Books
Further your education with these great book suggestions! Each of these books below supports a sustainable landscape for your own yard.
Waterwise Plants for Sustainable Gardens: 200 Drought-Tolerant Choices For All Climates
Lawn Gone!: Low-Maintenance, Sustainable, Attractive Alternatives For Your Yard
Envirohouse Videos
Watch this Envirohouse how-to video to learn how to install a rain barrel. This short video will help you save more water with these two videos! We hope it is helpful!
Envirohouse Interview Conclusion
A sustainable landscape can be achieved with some simple changes. Doing your research and choosing tough plants that are environmentally-friendly and water-wise is a great first step.
Kudos to the City of Tacoma for creating Envirohouse in Tacoma, Washington. This unique, eco-friendly oasis will enrich the public with its reverence for sustainable practices.
Now we want to hear from you!
What new ideas can you take away from this interview to use in your own yard? We would love to know so please leave us a quick comment below.
Thanks!
That’s all for this episode!
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Hear how the City of Tacoma has created sustainable landscapes and implemented green building practices into their model home open for the public to experience. Learn ideas you can add to your own yard or garden in this interview.
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Today’s Topic:
Sustainable Landscaping
In this podcast, you’ll hear our interview with the lovely Janda from Tacoma, Washington’s Envirohouse. Learn how the City of Tacoma is doing it right with natural landscape ideas and plant suggestions you can use in your own yard!
Downloads:
Free Fall Season Gardening chapter from our ebook, Four-Season Gardening.
Clover free plant reference sheet (from our free resource library)
What You’ll Learn:
- Sustainable ideas for your yard using drought-tolerant plants.
- Recommendations for landscape plants to purchase.
- Links for further resources or education.
Resources:
Some of the resources and products below may be affiliate links, meaning we might get paid a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you use that link to make a purchase.
- Lawn Alternatives for Your Drought-Tolerant Landscape – DIY Garden Minute Ep. 106
- Drought-Tolerant Plants and Why They’re Beneficial for Your Low-Water Garden – Ep. 37
- Blanket Flower: Gardener’s Guide and Plant Profile
- Drought-Tolerance Defined – DIY Garden Minute Ep. 104
- Drought-Tolerant Perennials That Bloom All Summer -DIY Garden Minute Ep. 97
Other Gardening Products Related To This Podcast You Might Not Have:
- Drought-Tolerant Supplies Kit
- Microclover
- White Clover Cover Crop
- Orbit Water Timer
- Gilmour Soaker Hose
- RTS Rain Barrel